NORTH DAKOTA STATE CLIMATE OFFICE
Phone: (701) 231-8901
Fax: (701) 231-7861
Department of Soil Science
Walster Hall
NDSU Dept 7680
P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58105-5638
p
Precipitation:
The North Dakota
(ND) state average
precipitation was
2.24 inches which
was above to the
1971-2000 normal
state average of
1.41 inches.
October 2008 state
average
precipitation ranked
the 11th wettest in
the past 114 years
with a maximum of
4.71 inches in 1982
and a minimum of
0.10 inches in 1952.
g
(
))
350
300
250
200
150
125
100
50
Figure 1. Precipitation Percent of Normal in October 2008
for North Dakota (North Dakota State Climate Office)
The October precipitation percent of normal was normal to above normal with a general
range of around 100% to 200% for the western half of ND. The precipitation percent of
normal was above normal in the eastern half of the state with a general range of 150% to
300%. The southeast corner of the state had the greatest amount of rainfall with greater
than 300% of normal precipitation (Figure 1, North Dakota State Climate Office). The
highest rainfall event was on the 10th in which the top four daily rainfall totals were
reported from the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN). The totals
were 2.28” at Wyndmere, 2.17” at Wahpeton, 2.01” at Oakes, and 1.83” at Ekre, all of
which are located in the south east corner of the state. The precipitation event from the
10th through the 13th included snowfall in the western third of the state. National
Weather Service (NWS) reported that Williston had a record snowfall of 7 inches on the
12th which broke the previous record of 0.5 inches set in 1899.
The US Drought Monitor classified the areas to the north and east of the Missouri river as
having no drought conditions. Most of the south west corner of the state was classified as
severe drought conditions. The USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North
Dakota Field Office reported a topsoil moisture of 8% very short, 17% short, 63%
adequate, and 12% surplus with a subsoil moisture reported as 20% very short, 17%
short, 52% adequate, and 11% surplus (Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin Vol. 95, No.
45).
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported breaking five rainfall records. Grand
Forks recorded a record 1.16 inches of rain on the 11th which broke the previous record
of 0.70 inches set in 1961. On the 12th, Grand Forks had a record 1.12 inches (breaking
the 1981 record of 0.94), Fargo a record 1.23 inches (breaking the 1997 record of 0.84),
and Williston a record 0.75 inches (breaking the 1994 record of 0.47). Minot recorded a
record 0.53 inches of rain on the 21st which broke the previous record of 0.52 inches set
in 1953. NWS also reported that Fargo had a record snowfall of 1.4 inches on the 27th
which broke the previous record of 1.2 inches set in 1925.
The top eight October daily maximum wind speeds recorded from the North Dakota
Agricultural Weather Network (NDSWN) all fell on the 26th and were over 50 mph. The
top five were 54.8 mph at McHenry, 53.3 mph at Marion, 53.0 mph at Robinson, 53.0
mph at Wyndmere, and 51.9 mph at Dazey. NDAWN wind speeds are measured at a
height of 10 feet (3 m).
Temperature
The state average air
temperature was 44.1
°F which is slightly
above the 1971-2000
normal of 43.6°F.
October 2008 state
average air temperature
ranked the 60th coolest
in the past 114 years
with a maximum of
54.8°F in 1963 and a
minimum of 32.5°F in
1925.
Figure 2. Temperature Departure from Normal in
The October departure from
October 2008 for North Dakota (North Dakota State
normal temperatures ranged
Climate Office)
from around -1°F below
normal in the south west corner to about 3°F above normal in the northeast (Figure 2,
North Dakota State Climate Office). The northern third of the state had October average
temperatures in the low 40’s. The lower two-thirds of the state had average October
temperatures in the mid40’s. By mid October most of the state had experienced a killing
frost. All areas received a killing frost on the 27th when minimum air temperatures ranged
from 11°F in the west to 27°F in the east.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that Bismarck had a record latest first fall
freeze date on October 14th with 32°F which broke the previous fall freeze date set on
October 11, 1980. The NWS reported that Dickinson had a record high temperature of
78°F on the 29th which broke the previous record of 77°F set in 1968.
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
-0.6
NDAWN’s highest recorded daily air temperature for October was 80.9°F at Sidney, MT
on the 4th. The lowest recorded daily air temperature was 11.0°F at Ross on the 27th.